The asialoglycoprotein receptors are lectins which bind asialoglycoprotein, glycoproteins from which a sialic acid has been removed to expose galactose residues. The receptors, which are located on liver cells, remove the target glycoproteins from circulation. The asialoglycoprotein receptor has been demonstrated to have high expression on the surface of hepatocytes and several human carcinoma cell lines. Lactobionic acid has been used as a targeting moiety for drug delivery to cells expressing asialoglycoprotein receptors.
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